WCO Economic Competitiveness Package “Expert Group Meeting on Transport and Trade Facilitation in ESCWA region” 10-11 April 2013, Dubai

Economic Competitiveness Package Background Economic uncertainty due to ongoing Global Financial Crisis WTO negotiations Regional integration Customs’ contribution Promote Revised Kyoto Convention and other tools Enhance cooperation among all stakeholders in international trade Share best practices among Members Develop new tools as appropriate Capacity building

ECP: Economic effects ECP Poverty reduction/ Prosperity Reduction of trade costs Advantage for firms Better export performance and more FDI Job creation and increased government revenue Economic growth and competitiveness Poverty reduction/ Prosperity WCO instruments Customs in 21st Century Revised Kyoto Convention SAFE Framework of Standards, etc. ECP Examples of Trade Facilitation Interventions Better border and Customs management Improved infrastructure Open and competitive market in logistics and service sector Harmonized regional standards

Revised Kyoto Convention ECP: Conceptual chart SAFE Framework of Standards Integrity Risk Management Compendium Transit Authorized Economic Operator Time Release Study Guide Revised Kyoto Convention SMEs Informal Sector Data Model Globally Networked Customs Single Window Compendium Information Exchange Coordinated Border Management

PC/Council recommendation: Way forward Action Plan in December Regional outreach to assess Members’ needs Case studies to share best practices Develop new or adapt existing tools as necessary Capacity building Promotion of Revised Kyoto Convention Strategic discussion on the role of RKC Management Committee Implementation, interpretation and systematic review

Kyoto Communiqué (WCO Policy Commission December 2012) 11. Policymakers worldwide have articulated the positive impact that international trade and trade facilitation have on economic recovery and sustainable growth. As the central public sector border agency, Customs administrations are integral to the smooth movement of goods, conveyances and people across borders. 12. To that end, the WCO has contributed - through its standards, tools, and technical assistance - support for increasing economic growth and competitiveness by Members. This culminated in the adoption of the innovative Economic Competitiveness Package (ECP) at the 119th/120th Council Sessions in June 2012. 13. The ECP assists Customs administrations with border management responsibilities and supports regional integration. The ECP could provide practical implementation guidance in preparation for any future WTO agreement on trade facilitation. Under the ECP, the WCO is collecting innovative and best practices on matters such as coordinated border management (CBM); IPR border enforcement; small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs); informal trade practices; and transit. 14. The Policy Commission endorsed the ECP Action Plan and urged its steady implementation through technical assistance, including needs assessment and gap analysis. The Policy Commission also encouraged regional entities to develop programmes to implement the ECP in co-operation with the WCO and regional development banks.

the enhancement of Economic Competitiveness Action Plan 4 Areas and 21 Actions for the enhancement of Economic Competitiveness Awareness-raising and Member’s needs assessment Regional seminars/workshops, Publication, Needs assessments, etc. Promotion of existing instruments and Tools Regional strategic plan, Capacity building, Donor coordination meeting, Accreditation of more experts, E-learning for the RKC, etc. Collection and dissemination of innovative and best practices Collection and dissemination of innovative and best practices on existing tools and Informal trade, SMEs, CBM and Transit, etc. Development and elaboration of the ECP Development of new tools, Further research on ECP, regular report to the PTC, etc.

Development of the ECP Council June 2012 PTC Nov 2012 PC Dec 2012 PC & Council June 2013 Dec 2013 Dec 2014 ECP Concept of ECP List of components Schedule of instruments and tools (technical explanation) List of tools for accession to the RKC Research Paper Action Plan Best practices New instruments or tools for the ECP Capacity Building Adopted Adopted Discussion Discussion Discussion Discussion Adopted Approval Collecting Best Practices Approval Development of new tools (where appropriate)

Schedule of existing instruments and tools The Schedule provides technical details of all related instruments and tools. It describes prime text and supporting instruments & tools in each area. (Example) 2-4 Risk Management Section 1 - PRIME TEXT INSTRUMENT DESCRIPTION AND AVAILABILITY 2-4-1 Revised Kyoto Convention (RKC) Standards 6.3 to 6.5 of the General Annex to the Revised Kyoto Convention set out principles of Customs Risk management. The Guidelines to these Standards cover many aspects of risk management, including control method, supporting infrastructure and examples of a Customs control process. The Legal Text is available here. The Guidelines are available on the WCO online shop. Section 2 - SUPPORTING INSTRUMENTS & TOOLS INSTRUMENT/TOOL DESCRIPTION AND AVAILABILITY 2-4-2 The Compendium on Risk Management The Compendium was adopted by the Customs Co-operation Council in 2011 - The compendium contains the systematic application of management procedures and practices which provide Customs with the necessary information to address movements or consignments which present a risk. The Compendium is available here.

5 Areas and Examples of tools and instruments 1. Transparency & Predictability Publication, Establishment of Official Website, Establishment of Enquiry Points, Advance Ruling, etc. Revised Arusha Declaration Recommendation on the use of world wide web sites by Customs Recommendation on the application of HS Committee Decisions Technical Guidelines on Binding Origin Information 2. Modernized Procedures & formalities Formalities and Requirements, Simplified Procedures, Risk Management, Audit Based Control, AEO, etc. SAFE Framework of Standard AEO Guideline Post Clearance Audit Guideline Compendium on Risk Management Customs Guidelines on Integrated Supply Chain Management Istanbul Convention ATA Convention 3. Use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Standardization & harmonization of sets of data, Unique Consignment Reference, Single Window, etc. WCO Data Model WCO Unique Consignment Reference WCO Single Window Compendium 4. Partnership and Cooperation Customs to Customs Partnerships, Customs to Business Partnership, etc. SAFE Framework of Standard Model Bilateral Agreement Nairobi Convention 5. Performance Measurement Time Release Study, Customs International Benchmarking TRS Guide Customs International Benchmarking Manual

WTO TF measures referenced to WCO instruments and tools

Action Plan - Regional needs Considering the fact that WCO Members’ needs in respect of the ECP are very different, the adequate assessment of such needs is definitely important for the implementation and the development of the ECP. WCO will Organize regional workshops/seminars for the ECP in all WCO regions by June 2014

Thank you Milena Budimirović Technical Officer Procedures and Facilitation Sub-Directorate World Customs Organization (WCO) milena.budimirovic@wcoomd.org